Green Gratitude

‘Tis that duration of year again. A instance for giving, a moment for reflection, and a duration for taking stock of the things that bring a smile to our faces and meaning to our lives. In other words, it’s a duration for gratitude.

Every month, as part of the Green Moms Carnival, green “mommy” bloggers from around the world unite to cover an eco-topic from various perspectives. that month the topic is gratitude, specifically, the three green things for which we’re most grateful. So without further adieu, here’s my list:

1.Good Green Friends: I know for many folks, going green can feel like an isolating experience. Always getting odd looks for bringing a reusable tote bag to the store or bringing in homemade goodies on snack day instead of the individually-wrapped high-fructose corn syrup variety. So I consider myself truly lucky to have such a rich network green friends, both on the web and in my neighborhood. And while I still meet folks who raise their eyebrows as I hang my clothes on the line to dry, it’s comforting to know that at there’s always someone who will listen to my rants on wasteful packaging or offer advice for a greener way to purchase toilet paper.

2. Greenwashing: What, grateful for greenwashing…have I lost my mind? Well, possibly, but that’s a whole different post. Truly, I’m grateful for greenwashing considering it just goes to show how far green has come. Twenty

years ago, companies wouldn’t have bothered to label their products as “green,” or “eco-friendly.” The fact that they do today tells me that we’re on the right track, even whether some companies don’t quite get it yet. And in today’s digital age, where green bloggers are spread far and wide on the web and consumers can literally send a text on their cell phones and seconds later find out whether the product on the shelf in front of them is as green as it claims to be, I’m not worried about greenwashing having any lasting effect. Most companies that try these technique soon realize that whether they don’t have the green goods to back up their claims, they’ll be busted before they petroleum-based ink on their styrofoam packaging has a chance to dry.

3. Organic, Fair-Trade Chocolate: Honestly, I don’t know what it is that I have been eating my whole life…but it was not chocolate. It looked like chocolate and sometimes smelled like chocolate, but before I found organic chocolate I had never really tasted chocolate. Real chocolate. The kind of chocolate that could stop traffic. The kind of chocolate that makes your toes curl and your eyes water with sheer joy. Think I’m exaggerating? thereupon you haven’t tried it. I’m so grateful that the green movement has brough organic, fair-trade (ie guilt-free) chocolate in to my life. It has certainly made my life even sweeter!